Can Rugs Make a Room Warmer?

Many people use rugs to warm their houses during cold seasons. Discover how rugs keep rooms warm and how to choose the right ones for your rooms. 

Do Area Rugs Help With Heat?

Many people buy rugs for their aesthetic value. Beyond the beauty and colors of these area rugs is a functional benefit — the warmth they provide. Rugs are excellent insulators and keep your feet warm throughout cold seasons.

If you live in an area with extreme winters, you can trust rugs to keep your rooms warm throughout the season. These rugs aren't just ideal for cold seasons — the extra warmth they provide makes them a must-have item for your floors year-round.

Using area rugs during cold seasons is a cost-effective way of keeping these spaces warm. Surprisingly, rugs are warmer than wooden or laminate flooring. If you love wooden floors, you can solve your warmth problem by placing an area rug on top of the floor to make it less cold. Rugs on wooden floors are especially useful if placed close to air vents, doors or windows where the cold can enter.

How Do Rugs Keep Rooms Warm?

Rugs have insulation qualities that help keep floors and rooms warm. You wear heavy clothes during cold seasons to prevent or limit the emission of your body heat — you feel cold when you emit heat. The same principle applies when covering your floor with rugs, except the rugs prevent the emission of cold. Area rugs add a layer of heat insulation on floors, trapping the cool air underneath and preventing it from exuding. 

Concrete, hardwood and tiles have lower thermal resistance than rugs, so they often feel cold to the touch. In addition, materials with low thermal resistance allow heat to escape easily. Rugs on the floor act as a barrier between the cold floor and your feet, preventing your body's heat from escaping easily.

This means that the rug's insulating effect works both ways — it keeps warm air from escaping downward through the floor while preventing cold air from escaping up.

Cold air can also enter rooms through gaps in flooring. Covering floors with rugs in these areas can minimize drafts and stabilize the rooms' temperatures.

The rugs' materials also contribute to their insulating qualities. Wool, for example, has high thermal resistance and can trap warm air inside its fibers. This quality makes wool and similar natural fabrics good at storing heat. 

Best Types of Rugs for Keeping Rooms Warm 

We know a rug can make a room warmer, but what type should you choose? Rugs are made of fibrous materials, and you should select specific materials if you prefer warm rugs for your rooms. Some materials have better insulating properties than others.

Consider these three types for optimal warmth, heat-trapping abilities and comfort.

1. Warm Wool Rugs

Wool is one of the best materials for maintaining a cozy and energy-efficient home. Its insulating properties make it the perfect choice. These rugs are crafted from natural sheep wool, providing excellent thermal properties that help keep your rooms warm.

Wool helps reduce the energy needed to keep rooms warm during cold seasons. Wool rugs are also known to be durable, stain-resistant and resilient to wear and tear.

2. Machine-Made Rugs

A machine-made area rug is your next best option. These rugs are more affordable than handmade rugs, as their automated production process reduces labor costs.

They also come in a wide range of styles, colors and patterns, making it easy to find one that complements your decor and suits your unique design preferences. Although they don't have the natural insulating properties present in wool rugs, they offer other benefits, such as energy efficiency, and are also a practical choice. 

You can reduce your home's heating costs, improve energy efficiency and create a stylish and comfortable space by strategically placing and layering machine-made rugs on your floors. If you're looking for a stylish rug on a budget, machine-made rugs are a prime choice.

3. Shag Rugs

Shag rugs are another excellent option for warming your bedrooms. We are familiar with the uncomfortable feeling of waking up and stepping on a cold floor. Placing a shaggy rug under your entire bed, at the sides or at the front will solve this problem. You can use a more delicate rug because your bedroom is probably not a high-traffic area, unlike your living room. 

Tips for Choosing Warm Rugs for Your Space    

Not all rugs are created equal, and if you're looking for one specifically for warming your rooms, you need to consider several factors:

• Choose warm materials: This is one of the most critical considerations when shopping for rugs to warm your rooms. You should choose rugs made of materials with insulating properties, such as wool. Although synthetic materials are still comfortable, they are not as effective for warming rooms.
• Prioritize patterns and texture: Area rugs with intricate patterns and textures can create the perception of warmth in your rooms. These patterns visually add depth to rooms.
• Select the right colors: Dark-colored rugs absorb and retain more heat than light-colored rugs. Go for rugs with deeper shades if you want something that can keep your rooms warm. 
• Choose a thick pile: Buy rugs with a shag texture or a thick pile for added warmth. The deeper the pile of the rugs, the better the insulation it can provide against cold floors. 
• Layer your rugs strategically: You may have bought your current rug because of its aesthetic features, but it's not providing the insulation you need. Place the warmer rug on top of your current rug to layer it up and keep your rooms warm. 
• Consider the size: Choose rugs that cover a significant area of your room. The larger the rug, the more insulation and comfort. If the rug can extend under the furniture, such as sofas, it will help keep the high-traffic areas warm. 

Purchase Rugs Online and Get Free Shipping, or Visit a Carpet & Tile Mart Store

Warm rugs are a great addition to your home if you want to give your rooms some added heat. However, rugs are crafted differently and intended for different functions, so choosing carefully is important.

We can guide you in choosing the right rugs for warming rooms, saving you the time and hassle of looking for the right ones. Choose the area rug you'd like on our website, and we'll give you free shipping for every purchase. You can also visit a Carpet & Tile Mart store near you to see our options in person.